Chapter 31: The Empress Dowager
When ria arrived at the palace,the imperial knights greeted her,owen was one of them
"Under the order of his majesty the emperor,we the members of the elite knights will be one of your guard your majesty"Sir Ian said and they bowed,there were 10 of them "hah" ria sigh 'did that bastar* emperor send them so i don't need to deal with the assassins' she thought and look at the knights that had looks of admiration towards her
"His Majesty is really worried for you your majesty" Owen spoke and ria gave a cold glare at him "i don't need your protection thus i have sir paul and sir Gerald" she replied "eek" owen quiver and was like a puppy that.got scolded "hah sir owen why are you being disrespectful to her majesty" sir Gerald was now worried for the peaceful days might be over
"Forgive me" sir owen apologized "haizz that man really knows how to ruin my life tsk alright you guys can do your job but don't disturb me"she said and they bowed with a smile"Thank you your majesty"
Ria went back to her room but it didn't take long for her to get bored 'I can't practice swordsmanship since the enemies are lurking around nor I can't use magic as much as i want hah should i sneak out again' she thought and stared at her ceiling
The spacious room was making her lonely so she sit back at the bed and sigh again, "i should try to familiarize the palace" she said and sit straight then she inhales and slowly exhale, her mind was now clear so she closed her eyes and focus,her consciousness became one with the wind and was now wandering around the palace, she kept looking around at the places and saw a unfamiliar castle that was located at the north apex of the main palace, she entered and there she saw some maids and some knights guarding the palace,ria tried to sneak in one of the rooms and she discovered that the palace belonged to the empress dowager
There was a portrait of a blonde woman with yellow eyes sitting on the throne with her red velvet dress and to her side was the emperor,they were fine looking couple but can easily be tell that they don't love each other, the man in the picture has golden eyes and red hair,ria notices that Lucius look like his father but was far more handsome than him so she was curious what the queen looks like, while ria was occupied at the portrait, the door opened and a woman entered and stopped at the front of the portrait, ria felt uneasy though she knew that she can't be seen she felt that she'll be spotted
' she must be the empress dowager but why do i sense trouble' ria thought and stares at the woman who was staring at the portrait 'i better leave' she thought "i didn't know that i have an uninvited guest"she spoke "you shouldn't wander around with the wind or the mages in my palace will track your body and will punish you for entering my place"she added Ria couldn't answer as she was unable to reply and the woman seems to not sense where ria was as she was only staring at the portrait,Ria hurriedly return to her body and gasped
"Hah was she a magician" she ask and decided to go out "i couldn't even stay still at my room for an hour" she sigh and Opened the door, sir Paul and Sir Gerald were outside "princess?" Sir Gerald ask "i want to look around at the palace again" ria and sir paul sigh "why don't you go outside of the palace princess" sir paul and Gerald was shock that he Opened his mouth "s-sir paul what do you mean" he ask while panicking knowing that ria was not allowed to go out
"Well i would really love to do that but I can't disobey his majesty and you can't just suggest some things that challenge the authorities of the emperor sir paul,are you too old that you don't value your life anymore" ria ask and started walking through the hallway "how odd princess your being obedient" sir Paul said and sir Gerald was following them like he's pretending not to hear their conversation 'was it this way' ria was focusing on finding the hallways that connect to the palace of the empress dowager
"Princess where do you plan to go" sir Gerald ask "just follow me" she replied and they kept walking "um princess this hallway leads to the palace of the empress dowager and visitors are not allowed in her palace"he said but Ria was more curious 'they said that the empress and the queen was being overthrown by the concubine so how can an empress like her whose powerful enough to sense me became a victim of the concubine, somethings are a mess' she thought and when they were outside of the main palace, ria had found the gates that she saw earlier so she knew that she was at the right place
As she was near the gates,she saw a figure standing near the gate where roses were planted,the knights that guard the gates were not there instead a slim figure of a woman was seen,the gates which was also closed were open and ria was surprised to see the woman she saw earlier standing there and plucking the red roses, "ah the empress dowager" sir Gerald was surprised as well "your highness we should return" he added but ria didn't listen and walk towards the open gate and greeted the woman
"Greetings empress dowager" ria bowed the woman look back at ria While her hands were full of roses,"Guests are not allowed in this place dear, you should go back" she said and smiled "forgive me if i tresspass but may i ask for a bit of your time your majesty" ria sincerely ask but the woman tilt her head and smiled "may i know your name milady" she ask "ah pardon me for my late introduction,my name is Astria Faith Felice your majesty" ria bowed "oh pftt" the woman was surprised but suddenly laugh that made ria and her knights stared at her with confuse eyes
"Your majesty?" Sir Gerald called for her "ah forgive me i didn't expect that the intruder was the soon to be wife and empress of the emperor,this is quite interesting don't you agree princess?" She ask and ria gulp 'how can she know that it was me' ria thought "forgive me your highness but did our princess wander around again"sir Paul ask "so she's your precious master sir Paul I didn't know that the princess you served was very amazing, and yes she did sneak into my Treasure room,why don't we have a cup of tea princess Astria" she offered and so ria smiled "I'll be delighted your majesty" she said
"Do follow me and welcome to my palace" she said and walks first while she's carrying a few pieces of Rose "your palace is beautiful your majesty" ria "This is my home so I'm making sure that the servants take good care of it but what is your reason to look for me princess" she ask and when they entered a room,she gave the roses to the servants and they took a sit "i was just curious that's why" ria said and the empress smiled mischievously "it's not that long since you arrive at the palace but your curious, is your princess a curious type sir paul" she ask
"Yes she is your majesty"sir Paul replied and ria pout 'they know each other well this should be easy but why is she eyeing on me' ria thought "your majesty" before ria could finish her speech the empress cut her off "princess before you start searching for answers you should try to adapt first in the environment that you're staying and thus should clarify your status and learn the lessons that a spouse of the emperor should, in short build your own status in the society and then you can start digging some answers to your question, don't wander around in places that your unfamiliar and don't be curious about other things just focus on yourself as you are being brought here to help the emperor" she said and ria became quite that was a long piece of advise
"I understand" she sigh and replied "the world is dangerous and you should be careful" she added but ria gazed with strong determined eyes "i know your majesty however i take actions so that i can learn about the things that I'm curious about, though i intend to do all of the things that you just said i must seek answers first which i consider important so please give me the answers that i seek" ria and the empress dowager smiled "alright then princess what is you question" she ask
"Why did you let the concubine destroy the imperial family"ria ask and the empress dowager was caught off guard, she thought that her questions would be about the past but she didn't expect it to be direct and precise as well, a moment of silence fell inside the room and ria was anticipating the answer that the empress dowager will give.....